Analysis of Radon Mitigation Techniques Used in Existing US Houses

1994 ◽  
Vol 56 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.B. Henschel (INVITED)

Abstract This paper reviews the full range of techniques that have been installed in existing US houses for the purpose of reducing indoor radon concentrations resulting from soil gas entry. The review addresses the performance, installation and operating costs, applicability, mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages of each radon mitigation technique. Active soil depressurisation (ASD) techniques are the measures most widely used by mitigation contractors. ASD techniques consistently and reliably provide the highest radon reductions, at costs often competitive with the less effective alternatives. The large majority of existing US houses having elevated radon can be effectively treated using ASD. Various other techniques can be used in houses where ASD is difficult or impractical to apply, or where lesser radon reductions are acceptable. However, these other techniques are always less effective, less reliable, or less well demonstrated than ADS.


Author(s):  
Mohammademad Adelikhah ◽  
Amin Shahrokhi ◽  
Morteza Imani ◽  
Stanislaw Chalupnik ◽  
Tibor Kovács

A comprehensive study was carried out to measure indoor radon/thoron concentrations in 78 dwellings and soil-gas radon in the city of Mashhad, Iran during two seasons, using two common radon monitoring devices (NRPB and RADUET). In the winter, indoor radon concentrations measured between 75 ± 11 to 376 ± 24 Bq·m−3 (mean: 150 ± 19 Bq m−3), whereas indoor thoron concentrations ranged from below the Lower Limit of Detection (LLD) to 166 ± 10 Bq·m−3 (mean: 66 ± 8 Bq m−3), while radon and thoron concentrations in summer fell between 50 ± 11 and 305 ± 24 Bq·m−3 (mean 115 ± 18 Bq m−3) and from below the LLD to 122 ± 10 Bq m−3 (mean 48 ± 6 Bq·m−3), respectively. The annual average effective dose was estimated to be 3.7 ± 0.5 mSv yr−1. The soil-gas radon concentrations fell within the range from 1.07 ± 0.28 to 8.02 ± 0.65 kBq·m−3 (mean 3.07 ± 1.09 kBq·m−3). Finally, indoor radon maps were generated by ArcGIS software over a grid of 1 × 1 km2 using three different interpolation techniques. In grid cells where no data was observed, the arithmetic mean was used to predict a mean indoor radon concentration. Accordingly, inverse distance weighting (IDW) was proven to be more suitable for predicting mean indoor radon concentrations due to the lower mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE). Meanwhile, the radiation health risk due to the residential exposure to radon and indoor gamma radiation exposure was also assessed.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Coletti ◽  
Giancarlo Ciotoli ◽  
Eleonora Benà ◽  
Erika Brattich ◽  
Giorgia Cinelli ◽  
...  

<p>In the volcanic area of the Euganean Hills district (100 km<sup>2</sup>), the indoor radon often exceeds the threshold level of 300 Bq/m<sup>3 </sup>stipulated by the Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom, thus suggesting the need to investigate the possible link between observed radon concentrations and the local geology (Trotti et al., 1998,1999; Strati et al., 2014). More recently, statistical and geostatistical analysis on rock samples identified high U, Th and K concentrations associated with areas characterised by trachyte and rhyolite lithologies (Tositti et al., 2017). With this contribution, we completed our investigation on the natural radioactivity in the Euganean Hills district extending the rocks dataset, performing on-site soil gas survey, and considering other important factors which can locally increase the radon occurrence, such as hydrothermal alterations, types of soils (e.g., geochemistry or presence of organic matters), and faults. Furthermore, we elaborated a Geogenic Radon Potential map to assess the local spatial relationships between the measured soil gas radon concentrations and seven proxy-variables: fault density (FD), total gamma radiation dose (TGDR), <sup>220</sup>Rn (Tn), digital terrain mode (SLOPE), moisture index (MI), heat load index (HLI) and soil permeability (PERM). Empirical Bayesian Regression Kriging (EBRK) was used to develop the most accurate hazard map of the considered area, thus, providing the local administration an up-to-date decisional tool for the land use planning. For the high radon emission measured, the high density of dwelling, and its geomorphological features, the Euganean Hills district represented a very meaningful case of study.  </p><p> </p><p>Trotti, F., Tanferi, A., Lanciai, M., Mozzo, P., Panepinto, V., Poli, S., Predicatori, F., Righetti, F., Tacconi, A., Zorzine, R., 1998. Mapping of areas with elevated indoor radon levels in Veneto. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 78 (1), 11–14.</p><p>Trotti, F., Tanferi, A., Bissolo, F., Fustegato, R., Lanciai, M., Mozzo, P., Predicatori, F., Querini, P., Righetti, F., Tacconi, A., 1999. A Survey to Map Areas with Elevated Indoor Radon Levels in Veneto, Radon in the Living Environment, 19-23 April 1999, Athens, Greece, 859–868.</p><p>Strati V., Baldoncini M., Bezzon G.P, Broggini C., Buso G.P., Caciolli A., Callegari I., Carmignani L, Colonna T, Fiorentini G., Guastaldi E., Kaçeli Xhixhaf M., Mantovani F, Menegazzo R., Moub L., Rossi Alvarez C., Xhixha G., Zanon A., 2014. Total natural radioactivity, Veneto (Italy). Journal of Maps, Vol. 11, Issue 4, 545–551. http://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2014.923348.</p><p>Tositti L., Cinelli G., Brattich E., Galgaro A., Mostacci D., Mazzoli C., Massironi M., Sassi R., 2017. Assessment of lithogenic radioactivity in the Euganean Hills magmatic district (NE Italy). J. Environ. Radioact. 166, 259–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.07.011</p>



2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K. Keating ◽  
Eric S. Berman

The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) recently released Statement No. 45, Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Post-Employment Benefits Other Than Pensions and its companion Statement No. 43 for pooled stand-alone health care plans, which will profoundly affect American governmental finance. The goal of this article is to encourage governments to consider carefully a full range of options in funding and restructuring other post-employment benefits (OPEB). This article will review Statement No. 45's potential impact on governments and review existing disclosures in financial reports as well as bond offering statements. The article will discuss the statement's impact on budgets and governmental operations, including collective bargaining. Funding options under Statement No. 45 will be detailed, including the advantages and disadvantages of irrevocable trusts and OPEB bonds. The article will also discuss the impact of Medicare Part D subsidies received by governments, as well as the bond rating implications of policy decisions surrounding OPEB. As the largest government entities are just now implementing GASB Statement No. 45, estimates of the magnitude of unfunded OPEB liabilities are limited as are the strategies likely to be adopted to cover these obligations. This article offers a summary of the unfunded OPEB liabilities reported by states and major cities and suggests some measures for assessing the ability of these entities to address these costs.



1987 ◽  
Vol 13 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 323-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel A. Mustafa ◽  
C.M. Vasisht ◽  
J. Sabol


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Streckytė ◽  
Donatas Butkus

The article presents the entry of radon gas into premises and introduces the parameters accelerating and slowing this process. The paper determines the dependence of radon gas entering the premises on ambient temperature and humidity changes. It is noted that a growth in differences under ambient and indoor temperature increases indoor radon concentrations in the air due to an increase in the intensity of radon exhalation from soil. Also, an increase in the moisture content indoors decreases the volumetric activity of radon in the air. The simulated values of radon volumetric activity in ambient air were similar to those measured using radon monitoring device RTM2200. Radon concentration in the air of the first floor was higher than that in the second floor. Indoor radon concentrations were highest in the winter and lowest in summer season. Article in Lithuanian. Santrauka Nagrinėjama radono dujų patekimo į patalpas procesas, šį procesą spartinantys ir lėtinantys parametrai. Nustatoma radono dujų patekimo į patalpas priklausomybė nuo aplinkos temperatūros bei drėgnio kitimo. Pastebėta, kad, didėjant aplinkos ir patalpos temperatūrų skirtumui, didėja ir radono tūrinis aktyvumas patalpos ore (vasarą radono tūrinis aktyvumas siekė 45,0±3,0 Bq/m3, kai temperatūrų skirtumas buvo 3,1 °C, o rudenį – 62,0±5,0 Bq/m3, esant temperatūrų skirtumui 3,9 °C), didėja radono ekshaliacijos iš dirvožemio intensyvumas, o didėjant drėgmės kiekiui patalpose radono tūrinis aktyvumas ore mažėja. Sumodeliuotos radono tūrinio aktyvumo patalpos ore reikšmės buvo panašios kaip ir išmatuotos naudojant radono monitorių RTM2200. Pirmajame aukšte radono tūrinis aktyvumas ore buvo didesnis nei antrajame. Žiemos sezonu jo vertė buvo didžiausia (47,0±10,5 Bq/m3), o vasaros sezonu – mažiausia (15±1,8 Bq/m3).



1986 ◽  
Vol 2 (01) ◽  
pp. 8-17
Author(s):  
Harry Hooper

The methods presently used by U.S. shipbuilders for preparing, nesting and marking plate parts are discussed. The use of existing computer technology is explored as a means for improving these operations by conserving plate and reducing operating costs. Appendices are included which list the advantages and disadvantages of both the oxy-flame and plasma cutting processes, the use of special sized plate in hull construction, and the basic features of a computerized parts nesting system.



2015 ◽  
Vol 123 (11) ◽  
pp. 1130-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan A. Casey ◽  
Elizabeth L. Ogburn ◽  
Sara G. Rasmussen ◽  
Jennifer K. Irving ◽  
Jonathan Pollak ◽  
...  


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